WSJ: Russia recruiting Syrians skilled in urban combat to be sent to Ukraine to help take Kyiv, according to U.S. officials.

3:54 AM

Explosions reported in Moscow, airport restrictions imposed as Russian authorities claim drone attack.

Explosions were reported in Moscow overnight on June 26, with Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claiming two drones were shot down by air defenses.

1:37 AM

NATO allies surprised by Rubio's inconsistency on Russia sanctions, Politico reports.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio surprised NATO allies with conflicting messages on Russia sanctions, delivering a tougher stance in private than in his public remarks, POLITICO reported on June 25.

11:47 PM

Ukraine, Council of Europe sign historic agreement to establish tribunal on Russian aggression.

Ukraine and the Council of Europe signed a landmark agreement to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, aimed at prosecuting Russian leadership for the full-scale invasion. The signing follows more than three years of diplomatic efforts and deliberation.

10:56 PM

Culture

Ukrainian author killed by Russia awarded UK’s prestigious Orwell Prize in political writing

10:20 PM

Belarus

Diplomacy or deal-making? Unpacking the U.S.-Belarus prisoner deal

10:07 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: US signals more Patriot missiles for Kyiv after Zelensky-Trump talks at NATO summit

9:41 PM

Culture

As Ukraine bleeds, Western opera welcomes back pro-Putin Russian singer Anna Netrebko

8:40 PM

Putin to skip BRICS summit in Brazil due to ICC arrest warrant.

Brazil is a member of the ICC and a signatory to the Rome Statute, meaning it is obliged to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he enters the country.

7:42 PM

Trump signals support for sending more Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

"They (Ukraine) do want to have the anti missiles. As they call them, the Patriots, and we're going to see if we can make some available," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

6:29 PM

'It's possible' — Trump on Putin's territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine.

"I consider him (Russian President Vladimir Putin) a person I think is misguided," U.S. President Donald Trump said speaking at a NATO press conference in The Hague on June 25.

6:17 PM

Russian Economy

Why Russian economy warnings might be the only thing out of Moscow you can actually believe

5:44 PM

Video

For Putin, war is existential — Estonian foreign minister at NATO summit.

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek sits down with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the sidelines of the NATO summit to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the Alliance, how the Israel-Iran escalation affects NATO's focus on Ukraine, and why Europe must take more responsibility for its own defense.

4:49 PM

Zelensky, Trump hold talks on NATO summit sidelines.

"We covered all the truly important issues," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace. We spoke about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and the readiness to help bring peace closer."

3:33 PM  (Updated:  June 25, 2025 4:28 pm)

NATO allies set new 5% defense spending target, reaffirm support for Ukraine, but fail to condemn Russia.

The leaders also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, stating that direct contributions to Ukraine's defense and industrial capacity will be counted toward the 5% total.

4:08 PM

Donetsk Oblast city ‘on brink of humanitarian catastrophe,’ governor says as drones cripple infrastructure.

"The Russians are trying to fully control all movement in the city using their drones," a military spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent.

3:03 PM

Ukrainian ‘traitor’ behind Russian missile guidance system charged with treason, SBU says.

Oleg Borsuk, a 61-year-old Ukrainian national, allegedly oversaw the development and modernization of satellite guidance systems (GPS/GLONASS) used in Russian missiles.

12:44 PM  (Updated:  June 25, 2025 3:02 pm)

‘Dead and wounded everywhere’ — Russian attack on Dnipro kills at least 19, injures more than 300.

Russia launched a deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on June 24, striking civilian infrastructure and a passenger train, local officials reported.

2:03 PM

UK to buy Ukraine weapons with frozen Russian asset proceeds.

The move represents the U.K.'s first direct use of Russia-linked funds to buy weaponry for Kyiv.

1:52 PM

Trump says Zelensky is a 'nice guy,' will discuss 'his difficulties' during meeting at NATO summit.

"Obviously we'll be discussing his difficulties, he's got a little difficulty," U.S. President Donald Trump said.

12:27 PM

Reforms

With Trump disengaged and EU complacent, Ukrainian reforms lose momentum

12:17 PM

'Crushing' Russia with sanctions would jeopardize Ukraine peace talks, Rubio says.

"If we did what everybody here wants us to do, and that is come in and crush them with more sanctions, we probably lose our ability to talk to them about the ceasefire and then who's talking to them?" U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

11:38 AM

US citizen wanted for child sex crimes arrested in Ukraine after 30 years on the run.

According to U.S. law enforcement, the suspect worked as the director of a preschool in Pima County, Arizona, and committed a series of sexual offenses against four children aged 4 to 9 between 1984 and 1991.

10:54 AM

At least 23 killed, more than 300 injured in Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine over past day.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched 71 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys from multiple directions, including Bryansk, Millerovo, Kursk, and occupied Crimea. Ukraine's air defenses destroyed 52 of them.

10:04 AM

'Something unknown' hits key Russian drone facility in Taganrog, Ukrainian official says.

"Something unknown flew into the Atlant-Aero plant in Taganrog," Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation center, said. "This is an important node in the Russian military-industrial complex, specializing in components for combat drones and control systems."

9:01 AM

'Treasonous' — Trump, Witkoff slam intel leak undermining US strikes on Iran, insist nuclear targets 'obliterated'.

"It goes without saying that leaking that type of information, whatever the information, whatever side it comes out on, is outrageous. It's treasonous," U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said during an appearance on Fox News.